Think YouTube.ae is a tube trading marketplace — Google doesn’t

Firm files complaint against site that states it’s for “tube trading”.

Google has filed a complaint with World Intellectual Property Organization in an attempt to get the domain name YouTube.ae. .Ae is the country code for United Arab Emirates.

YouTube.ae is either a legitimate business or a clever scheme to hide the true intentions of the domain’s owner.

The site states YouTube (they capitalize it YOUTUBe) is the “leading portal of tube trading”.

A copyright notice on the bottom of the home page reads “Copyright © YOUTUBe Market Place 1997-2007”. If you click on a different page you’ll see a 2011 copyright notice.

Screenshots.com shows a similar home page in 2009 but with a 2007 end copyright notice. .Ae doesn’t publish registration dates in whois, but DomainTools has historical whois records back to 2007.

The “regarding” section reads:

YOUTUBe is a leading portal on tubes trading – a platform, establishing direct connections between tubes & pipes traders, suppliers and clients, offering not only directory type of services – available to all Yellow Pages and Internet users, but allowing purchase and sale managers communicate with each other directly without spending weeks waiting for call-backs and replies to requests sent to feedback emails. Apart from that, YOUTUBe staff is always ready to source and negotiate best deals for you.

There’s also a news section, but clicking on any of the news articles brings you to a login page.

What do you think – legitimate business or clever coverup?